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United States President Donald Trump has expanded on remarks about his falling-out with Jeffrey Epstein years ago, saying Epstein “stole” young women, including Australian Virginia Giuffre, who worked for the spa at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
Trump previously said he had banned Epstein from his private club in Florida two decades ago because his one-time friend “stole people that worked for me”.
At the time, he did not make clear who those workers were.
Trump has faced an outcry over his administration’s refusal to release more records about Epstein after promises of transparency.
Trump expands on fallout with Epstein
Aboard Air Force One while returning from Scotland, Trump said he was upset Epstein was “taking people who worked for me”.
The women, he said, were “taken out of the spa, hired by him — in other words, gone”.
“I said, listen, we don’t want you taking our people,” Trump said.
When it happened again, Trump said he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a key accuser in cases involving Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew of Britain, took her own life earlier this year. Source: AP / Bebeto Matthews
Asked if Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide earlier this year, was one of the employees poached by Epstein, Trump said: “He stole her.”
Virginia Giuffre’s allegations against Epstein
Giuffre claimed convicted sex trafficker and close associate of Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, had spotted her working as a spa attendant at Mar-a-Lago in 2000 when she was a teenager, and hired her as Epstein’s masseuse, which led to sexual abuse.
Giuffre accused Epstein of pressuring her into having sex with powerful men.
Although Giuffre’s allegations did not become part of criminal prosecutions against Epstein, she has been central to conspiracy theories about the case.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
Readers seeking crisis support can ring Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25). More information and support with mental health is available at beyondblue.org.au and on 1300 22 4636.
